Most people will unfortunately suffer from at least one sinus infection throughout their lifetime. Beneath and around the nose area, there are a series of small cavities connecting the nasal passages to the sinuses. When these areas become infected, germs accumulate; block the passages, leaving you feeling miserable. Common symptoms of an acute sinus infection include congestion, coughing, headache, tenderness and swelling, among many others.

While sinus infections can happen to anyone, there are many individuals who tend to suffer from this condition much more frequently, sometimes suffering from an infection at least once a year. If you do not suffer from frequent sinus infections, you most likely know someone that does. If you consider to common causes of acute sinus infections, you can better understand what puts an individual at a higher risk than others.

Viruses

Majority of sinus infections begin as the common cold, which are caused by viruses. If you are more prone to contract colds, then you will be more susceptible to developing sinus infections. Unfortunately, most viruses must simply run their course, and your symptoms should begin to dissipate after a week or so.

To protect yourself against viruses, you must diligently protect yourself from germs, especially during periods during the year when the cold and flu are prevalent. Wash your hands frequently, and avoid others who are showing cold symptoms. It can also be beneficial to take probiotics and receive your flu shot in order to further safeguard.

Nasal Polyps

The actual structure of the nose can contribute to an increased vulnerability for infection. Nasal polyps are small growths that form in the nasal passages and cavities from tissues. The growths are benign, but can block the airways, causing headaches, and increasing the opportunity for infections to develop. The polyps restrict the cavities, preventing mucus from being able to drain properly, which can lead to an infection.

Polyps are sometimes formed due to the persistence of chronic allergies. Areas of the nasal passages become swollen for long periods of time, or polyps begin to form. There are nasal sprays and oral medications that can possibly reduce and treat nasal polyps with the use of steroids. In some cases, the polyps may require surgery in order to be completely removed from the nasal passages.

Allergies

A sinus infection is certainly icing on the miserable cake when you are already suffering from allergies, but this is a very common problem people face. Those who suffer from chronic allergies are not only much more likely to contract a sinus infection, but they also tend to have more extensive infections. The allergies cause the nasal passages and sinus cavities to become irritated and inflamed, which leads to restriction and obstruction of air and mucus flow. This creates the perfect nasal environment for an infection to develop.

The only way to reduce the number of allergy related sinus infections is to alleviate the allergy symptoms themselves. There are two primary ways in which you can reduce allergic reactions. You can avoid any substances that will trigger the allergic reactions. If your allergens are pollen or dust mites, this may be easier said then done. The other method is to use antihistamines, or other medications that will address your nasal inflammation.

Blocked Nasal Passages

The bottom line is that the primary culprit of all sinus infections is the restriction of nasal passages. This is why people who are already prone to have inflamed nasal passages due to allergies, or those who have unusually obstructed nasal anatomy, are at an increased risk to develop an acute sinus infection. If you are continually battling with these debilitating infections, consult with a physician to see how you can reduce your risk.

How the Air in Your Energy Efficient Home is Affecting Your Health

Creating homes that are more energy efficient is a noble goal, but can lead to health problems in terms of indoor air quality. One highly effective way to make a home more efficient is to tighten the building envelope. This means completely sealing the home so that as little air escapes as possible, without your control. When the building becomes air tight, heating and air systems require much less energy to keep the space at a suitable temperature. However, if there is no system in place to bring fresh clean air into the home, poor air quality can become a serious health hazard.

You may not realize how many air contaminants are present every day inside the home. The most prevalent pollutants are often the Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs. Most every product you use in your home that has an artificial fragrance contains these VOCs. Manmade fragrances are created using chemicals that can be harmful to the human body in the event of long-term exposure. Examples of these products include cleaning supplies, perfumes, glues, and air fresheners.

There are plenty of other air contaminants within your home coming from other sources such as insecticides or rodenticides, paints, animals, and plants. If you use a fireplace, gas heater, or gas stove, these can be sources of harmful gases and other contaminants. If individuals smoke tobacco products inside the home, the second hand smoke can also harm the indoor air quality.

So, what happens if these pollutants and contaminants linger within your home? There are many short-term health side effects that can manifest due to poor indoor air quality. Most of the symptoms are related to the eyes, throat, and nose. Inhabitants of the home may experience itchy watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, and congestion. As the problem persists, other symptoms may develop such as dizziness, tiredness, and frequent headaches.

The good news is, if the indoor air quality problem is addressed early, the health problems experienced will dissipate once the contaminated air is replaced with fresh clean air. The bad news is that long-term exposure to poor indoor air quality can result in serious chronic illnesses, and even certain types of cancer in severe cases.

The contaminants in the air are toxins that are entering your body as you breath. When these toxin levels are low, it is much easier to correct the problem. Over an extended period of exposure time, these toxin levels in the body can rise to dangerously high levels that are much more difficult to correct. Long-term exposure to poor air quality can result in serious respiratory diseases, hearing loss, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.

Fortunately, there are ways to improve these indoor air quality problems, while maintaining an airtight and energy efficient home. The first way to improve air quality is to limit the number of pollutants entering the home. You can reduce the number of VOCs and other indoor air contaminants by using as many organic, natural, and fragrance free products in the home as possible, and asking smokers to step outside before lighting their cigarettes.

Of course, it is impossible to completely eliminate all contaminants that enter the home, so it is necessary to be able to remove stale air from the house, and replace it with clean fresh air. In an airtight structure, this can be easily accomplished using mechanical air ventilation. There are inexpensive mechanical air ventilation systems that will connect directly to your existing HVAC system, allowing you to bring fresh, possibly filtered, air into your home. When used correctly, airtight homes can promote indoor air quality because you have complete control over the air entering your home.

An increasing number of people are experiencing the dreadful struggle with seasonal allergies each year. For those who are familiar with this problem, the signs are clear when that time of year is approaching. Symptoms to allergic reactions usually include increased sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes or skin, and congestion. If these reactions are left untreated, allergens can make your entire day quite miserable. Along with following advised allergy treatments from a physician, there are a few ways you can reduce your seasonal allergy pain.

Identify the Cause

If you are showing signs of an allergic reaction, logic suggests that there must be an allergen to blame. A doctor can give you an allergy skin test to determine exactly what substances are triggering your allergic reactions. If you only seem to notice your symptoms seasonally, there is a good chance that you are allergic to pollen.

Pollen may be a very common allergen, but there are plenty of other substances that could be causing your reaction. You may be blaming pollen when really you are allergic to dust mites, pet dander, or a chemical present in a new cleaning product you’ve purchased. To best alleviate your symptoms, you must determine, with certainty, what is causing them to occur.

Avoiding Your Allergen

Obviously, one of the best ways to reduce your allergic reactions is to reduce your exposure to your allergen. If you are allergic to pollen, this task can be a bit challenging. You do not hide yourself away on a beautiful day out of fear of pollen. What you can do is limit your exposure to pollen in as many ways as possible without placing too many restrictions on your lifestyle.

Little choices can make a big difference. Having someone assist you with landscaping and lawn care, and driving with your windows sealed can reduce your amount of pollen exposure. You can also plan your outdoor activities to avoid days on which the pollen count is to be exceedingly high. Local weather stations and networks will often report the day’s pollen count. As the pollen counts are usually at their highest in the early morning, it is best to schedule outdoor activities for the afternoon or evening hours.

Boost Your Defenses

It is impossible to completely avoid your allergens forever. Since you are going to have to face your allergens eventually, it is best to be as prepared as possible. A healthy immune system is a great defense against succumbing to allergic reactions. There are several important factors that need to be covered when strengthening the immune system. To have the strongest immune system possible, you must:

Eat a healthy well-balanced nutrient rich diet. In particular, foods that contain significant levels of vitamin C can be very beneficial.

Get plenty of rest so that your body can be rejuvenated.

Exercise for at least thirty minutes per day. If you suffer from a pollen allergy, you will clearly want to exercise indoors during the times when the pollen counts are at their highest.

Keep Clean and Tidy

Whether your allergen is pollen, dust, or pet dander, you do not want these irritants infiltrating your home. During the seasons when your allergies are rampant, you can reduce your suffering by keeping your home, clothing, carpets and bedding as clean as possible. You can also improve the air quality, and reduce the pollen levels, in your home by changing your air filter, and using an air purifier.

If your allergy symptoms are persistent and lasting, there is no reason you should continue to struggle. If the allergic reactions continue to negatively affect your health and life, seek treatment from a physician as soon as possible.